Now that we are all back into the swing of the school year schedule at Casa Jones, I’m reminded of why I struggle so much with those dreaded hours from the time my kiddos walk in the back door until we are all sitting down at the table for dinner. It is nothing short of complete chaos! Each of my many children has a different story to tell me about their day, plus different school assignments to complete, plus different extra curricular activities all at different locations at different times. I know you are in the same tumultuous situation as me and I firmly believe that the fact that we all successfully navigate it day after day is nothing short of a miracle. We are awesome! Now, before we get all prideful and puffed up on our awesomeness, I have yet to mention the most dreaded aspect of our after school pandemonium: DINNER! I am certainly not a newbie to this mom job and have plenty of experience with six kids, but even after all these years, it still shocks me when I look at the clock to discover how cruelly 6:00 pm has snuck up on me. Now, I may be religious at my menu planning each week and sticking to that plan when I go grocery shopping, but I often get too adventurous in what I plan to make and don’t realistically consider the time I will have to make that weeknight dish. So when I find it is suddenly time for dinner and I have nothing quick to make, it often results in something quick like pancakes or cold cereal for dinner. While my children get excited seeing breakfast for dinner, it is really important to me to gather my whole family together every night for dinner, which means it is important to have something healthy and delicious to offer as well. In an attempt to become more successful at actually preparing the meals I have already planned out and shopped for, I am working hard to create some new dishes that can be thrown together in under 30 minutes.
Since my kids’ favorite form of protein is chicken, I was excited when I was asked to create a new recipe for Tyson® Fresh Chicken. I was already an avid user of their products because I love that I am feeding my family chicken that is all natural* with no added hormones and steroids**. Plus, it arrives fresh to my store within days of leaving the family farms that have been producing this chicken for over 75 years. My Basil and Balsamic Italian Chicken was a massive hit with my family. So much amazing flavor packed into each bite and I loved it because it was so quick to throw together. Honest. It took me less than 30 minutes!
To help you in your own mission to provide your family healthy and amazing dinners at your table, one of my readers has a chance to win a custom gift basket with kitchen gadgets and goodies thanks to Tyson Fresh Chicken! To enter this sweepstakes, simply leave me a comment on this post answering the following question, “What is your favorite quick and easy dinner to serve your family?” Print
Preheat oven to 425 degrees and spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray. Lay the chicken breasts smooth side down on the pan and squeeze half the lemon over the top, then sprinkle on a good amount of the salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder. Flip the chicken over and repeat on the other side. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until the juices run clear. The time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts.
While the chicken is baking, place the balsamic vinegar in a small skillet and bring it to a boil over medium high heat and allow it to reduce to a syrup like consistency, which takes about 5-8 minutes.
In a small bowl, combine the chopped basil, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper then set aside.
Once the chicken is baked, remove from the oven and layer on slices of tomato topped with slices of mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven for a couple minutes until the cheese melts.
To serve, top each chicken breast with the basil mixture and then drizzle the reduced balsamic vinegar over the top.
Notes
*Chicken must be cooked to an internal temperature of 170 degrees for boneless products and 180 degrees for bone in chicken products.
Author:Carole Jones
Nutrition
Serving Size:1/6th
Calories:351
Sugar:5g
Sodium:952mg
Fat:19g
Saturated Fat:5g
Unsaturated Fat:12g
Trans Fat:0g
Carbohydrates:8g
Fiber:2g
Protein:37g
Cholesterol:103mg
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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here.This sweepstakes runs from 8/27 – 10/26.Be sure to visit the Tyson Fresh Chicken brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
*Minimally processed. No artificial ingredients. **Federal regulations prohibit the use of added hormones or steroids in chicken.
Carole Jones
Carole Jones is an Arizona-based cookbook author & food blogger. She's authored The 30 Minute Cooking From Frozen Cookbook and the self-published Take 5: Chicken e-cookbook. For the past 15 years, Carole has shared her culinary adventures cooking and baking for her six brutally honest children here on My Kitchen Escapades. Hot, crusty bread is Carole's love language, but her two adorable grandchildren are a close second. Yes, second. Don't judge.
61 comments
Erica Best
12 years ago
i love coconut chicken
Sonya Morris
12 years ago
My favorite quick dinner is always spaghetti!
Sonya Morris
12 years ago
My husband would love your Basil Balsamic Italian Chicken! I will have to try to make it for him one day. Thanks for sharing!
Madeline
12 years ago
I love chicken tacos with rice for a quick and yummy dinner!
Debbie B
12 years ago
i like a grilled chicken salad for a quick and easy dinner!
Ellie Wright
12 years ago
Green Chile Chicken Stew is my very favorite. I can’t wait for cold weather to make a big pot of it.
Sarah L
12 years ago
My favorite chicken recipe is stir fry.
Thanks for the contest.
Annette
12 years ago
My favorite quick and easy meal to serve is chicken or meatball spaghetti with spaghetti squash instead of pasta. I used to bake the squash for what seemed like forever, until I learned you can cut it in half and boil for under 15 minutes.
Annette
12 years ago
I love your recipe – it combines two of my favorites (chicken and Caprese salad).
Betty C
12 years ago
During the warm weather I think I could eat chicken stir fry every day of the week with all the fresh veggies from the garden. I also like to make a chicken vegetable soup in the slow cooker.
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I am certainly not a newbie to this mom job and have plenty of experience with six kids, but even after all these years, it still shocks me when I look at the clock to discover how cruelly 6:00 pm has snuck up on me. Now, I may be religious at my menu planning each week and sticking to that plan when I go grocery shopping, but I often get too adventurous in what I plan to make and don’t realistically consider the time I will have to make that weeknight dish. So when I find it is suddenly time for dinner and I have nothing quick to make, it often results in something quick like pancakes or cold cereal for dinner. While my children get excited seeing breakfast for dinner, it is really important to me to gather my whole family together every night for dinner, which means it is important to have something healthy and delicious to offer as well. In an attempt to become more successful at actually preparing the meals I have already planned out and shopped for, I am working hard to create some new dishes that can be thrown together in under 30 minutes.
61 comments
i love coconut chicken
My favorite quick dinner is always spaghetti!
My husband would love your Basil Balsamic Italian Chicken! I will have to try to make it for him one day. Thanks for sharing!
I love chicken tacos with rice for a quick and yummy dinner!
i like a grilled chicken salad for a quick and easy dinner!
Green Chile Chicken Stew is my very favorite. I can’t wait for cold weather to make a big pot of it.
My favorite chicken recipe is stir fry.
Thanks for the contest.
My favorite quick and easy meal to serve is chicken or meatball spaghetti with spaghetti squash instead of pasta. I used to bake the squash for what seemed like forever, until I learned you can cut it in half and boil for under 15 minutes.
I love your recipe – it combines two of my favorites (chicken and Caprese salad).
During the warm weather I think I could eat chicken stir fry every day of the week with all the fresh veggies from the garden. I also like to make a chicken vegetable soup in the slow cooker.